How much did the offenders contribute to the cost of removal?
Identify how they obtained the spray cans and get those suppliers onside to be more vigilant.
74 offenders being charged in 2012 for the amount of graffiti that has been removed is disappointing.
People must be seeing the crime being committed but won't speak up and report those responsible. Observe the disgraceful condition of so many trains, railway property.
The statistics should include the time the 74 offenders have spent cleaning up the work of others.
Boredom and unemployment should not be an acceptable excuse for the destruction of public and private property.
If they have a large SPER account as a result of their actions, encourage their family to work with them to repay the community.
Graffiti in inner-city Brisbane. Photo: Supplied
Brisbane's vandal plague, as well as its graffiti hotspots, have been revealed in new figures that show how big the battle against tagging has become.
Since its launch in 2008, the Lord Mayor's Taskforce Against Graffiti has dealt with more than 400 offenders responsible for more than 500,000 tags, with one sting in September last year resulting in 19 people being charged with 1544 offences.
In revealing the figures, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said vandalism offences were also rising dramatically.
20 people were charged with 800 offences with the Brisbane City Council and QPS initiative began.
Last year, 74 people were charged with 3363 offences.
“I've looked at the figures and they don't paint a pretty picture for those offenders who think they can get away with illegal graffiti,” Cr Quirk said.
“We still have quite a way to go before illegal graffiti is wiped out completely, but we're making serious mileage here.”
Last year, Brisbane's biggest graffiti hot spots were West End, South Brisbane, Highgate Hill area, Fortitude Valley, Paddington, Milton, Toowong and Ashgrove, with hot spots in previous years including Keperra, Nundah, Wynnum, Coorparoo and Bracken Ridge.
Cr Quirk said enough graffiti to cover Suncorp Stadium 57 times over had been removed since 2008, however the total area vandalised each year was shrinking.
Almost 170,000 square metres was removed in 2009, while 132,000 square metres was removed last year.
Since 2009, the council has spent $15 million on graffiti enforcement and removal, with more than $3 million of a $13.5 million four-year project allocated to this financial year alone.
“By spending more on enforcement, we're spending less on graffiti removal. Rapidly removing graffiti has a significant impact on reducing the graffiti vandalism at any hot spot, so we do our best to act as quickly as possible," ,” Cr Quirk said.
Top Five graffiti hotspots by year
2010 - Bracken Ridge, West End, Inala, Zillmere, Coorparoo.
2011 - Keppera, West End, Nundah, Highgate Hill, Wynnum
2012 - West End, South Brisbane, Highgate Hill, Fortitude Valley, Paddington, Milton, Toowong, Ashgrove
Graffiti-related charges - Offenders
- 2008: 20 offenders, 800 charges
- 2009: 74 offenders, 2042 charges
- 2010: 94 offenders, 3614 charges
- 2011: 175 offenders, 4887 charges
- 2012: 74 offenders, 3363 charges
Key arrest examples:
2008: Authorities arrested an offender known as "Mister Thirteen" because of his tag. He was the first serial offender charged by the Taskforce. He committed numerous offences in the Chermside area, including the shopping centre.
2009: A group of juveniles using the team tag 'KSG' were charged with more than 100 offences committed in the Keperra/Mitchelton area. The youths were aged between 11 and 16 and were dealt with through the juvenile justice system.
2010: Four offenders were charged with 665 offences, a record at that time. These offenders had targeted Brisbane City Council infrastructure, other council property and QR assets.
2011: Six offenders were charged with 733 offences as the result of an investigation into a major "crew" operating within Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Brisbane Times Report
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